WORD From The Woods
Acts 1:12-26
“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
After Jesus ascends to the right hand of the Father, the disciples return to Jerusalem, obedient to His command to wait for the Spirit. They’re in a holding pattern, eleven men, plus others, praying and waiting in the upper room. Judas’ betrayal left a gap, and they needed to fill it. Guided by Scripture (Psalm 69:25, 109:8), they trust God to choose Matthias as the new apostle through casting lots. This passage shows us how to wait on God with purpose, trusting His sovereign hand even when the path isn’t clear.
As loggers, we know waiting. Sometimes, we wait because of bad weather to fall timber or get out on the ground to start logging, for equipment to be ready, for the crew to show up, for contracts to get signed, or any number of things. Waiting isn’t idle, it’s preparation. In Acts 1, the disciples aren’t just sitting around; they’re praying, studying Scripture, and acting in faith. They don’t know exactly what’s coming. Pentecost is still days away, but they trust God’s got it under control.
As Christians, we hold tight to God’s sovereignty. Every tree you cut, every load you haul, every early morning we rise, it’s all under His rule and dominion. The disciples didn’t pick Matthias on a whim; they leaned on God’s Word and His providence. Casting lots wasn’t a coin flip; it was their way of saying, “Lord, You decide.” Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.” God is in the details.
You might be waiting too, waiting for a job to stabilize, for a family situation to resolve, or for strength to carry on. Like the disciples, don’t waste the waiting. Pray hard. Dig into Scripture. Trust that God’s plan is unfolding, even when the forest feels too thick to see through. Matthias was God’s sovereign choice, not man’s, and God is still choosing the right path for you and me.
We are not out here just aimlessly doing life, the real work is trusting God’s plan. This week, when you’re waiting…. at the mill, on the job, or in life, remember the disciples in that upper room. They waited, prayed, and trusted. God filled the gap with Matthias, and He’ll fill yours too. Go work hard, love well, lead your families and rest in His sovereign grace.
This is my prayer for you this morning: “Father, thank You for Your perfect plan. Give these hard working folks strength to do what they do, patience to wait, grace to love those around them, and faith to trust in You. Let them see Your sovereign hand in every tree they fell, skid, load, and haul, and every step they take. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God bless and have a great week -Terry Mann-
Acts 1:12-26
“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
After Jesus ascends to the right hand of the Father, the disciples return to Jerusalem, obedient to His command to wait for the Spirit. They’re in a holding pattern, eleven men, plus others, praying and waiting in the upper room. Judas’ betrayal left a gap, and they needed to fill it. Guided by Scripture (Psalm 69:25, 109:8), they trust God to choose Matthias as the new apostle through casting lots. This passage shows us how to wait on God with purpose, trusting His sovereign hand even when the path isn’t clear.
As loggers, we know waiting. Sometimes, we wait because of bad weather to fall timber or get out on the ground to start logging, for equipment to be ready, for the crew to show up, for contracts to get signed, or any number of things. Waiting isn’t idle, it’s preparation. In Acts 1, the disciples aren’t just sitting around; they’re praying, studying Scripture, and acting in faith. They don’t know exactly what’s coming. Pentecost is still days away, but they trust God’s got it under control.
As Christians, we hold tight to God’s sovereignty. Every tree you cut, every load you haul, every early morning we rise, it’s all under His rule and dominion. The disciples didn’t pick Matthias on a whim; they leaned on God’s Word and His providence. Casting lots wasn’t a coin flip; it was their way of saying, “Lord, You decide.” Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.” God is in the details.
You might be waiting too, waiting for a job to stabilize, for a family situation to resolve, or for strength to carry on. Like the disciples, don’t waste the waiting. Pray hard. Dig into Scripture. Trust that God’s plan is unfolding, even when the forest feels too thick to see through. Matthias was God’s sovereign choice, not man’s, and God is still choosing the right path for you and me.
We are not out here just aimlessly doing life, the real work is trusting God’s plan. This week, when you’re waiting…. at the mill, on the job, or in life, remember the disciples in that upper room. They waited, prayed, and trusted. God filled the gap with Matthias, and He’ll fill yours too. Go work hard, love well, lead your families and rest in His sovereign grace.
This is my prayer for you this morning: “Father, thank You for Your perfect plan. Give these hard working folks strength to do what they do, patience to wait, grace to love those around them, and faith to trust in You. Let them see Your sovereign hand in every tree they fell, skid, load, and haul, and every step they take. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God bless and have a great week -Terry Mann-